In My Feelings

"In My Feelings" is a multifaceted track that operates on several thematic levels. At its core, the song is a direct and public plea for emotional validation and loyalty from a romantic partner. Drake repeatedly asks, “Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding?” which encapsulates a deep-seated insecurity and a need for assurance. The term “riding” is crucial, as it’s slang for unwavering support, especially through difficult times. This suggests Drake is questioning whether the love he receives is conditional on his fame and success or if it's genuine.

The song also delves into the theme of authenticity in the face of celebrity. Drake asserts, “Look, the new me is really still the real me / I swear you gotta feel me before they try and kill me.” This line reveals his anxiety about how fame might have changed him in the eyes of others and a desire for his partner to see his true self. The mention of potential betrayals (“before they try and kill me”) underscores the high-stakes environment he navigates.

Furthermore, “In My Feelings” explores the transactional nature of relationships in the modern, hyper-capitalist, and social media-driven world. This is most explicitly articulated in the interlude by the City Girls, who demand financial access (“I need that black card and the code to the safe”) and flip the romantic cliché of “Netflix and chill” into a blunt assessment of his wealth: “what's your net-net-net worth?” This perspective serves as a stark contrast to Drake's vulnerable questioning, presenting a cynical view of love as a business arrangement. The song's outro, sampling an episode of 'Atlanta' where a character wants a photo with Drake purely for Instagram clout, reinforces this theme of superficiality.

The identities of the women named—Kiki, KB, 'Resha, and JT—add another layer. While “Kiki” and “KB” are believed to refer to K'yanna Barber, an Oakland woman Drake was linked to, 'Resha and JT are Yung Miami and JT of the City Girls. By addressing multiple women, Drake universalizes his query, turning a specific romantic question into a broader meditation on love, trust, and loyalty in his life.

The song opens with the producer tag “Trap, TrapMoneyBenny,” immediately setting a contemporary hip-hop tone. Drake then dives into the central theme, repeatedly and plaintively asking a woman named Kiki if she loves him and if she's “riding”—a slang term for being loyal and supportive. He expresses his deep want and need for her, pledging his constant devotion. This initial chorus establishes a mood of vulnerability and a desperate need for romantic assurance.

The first verse sees Drake reflecting on his identity amidst fame. He insists that his new, successful persona is still the authentic version of himself, urging his love interest to understand him before external pressures or rivals try to bring him down. He observes her growth and how she handles the perks of his lifestyle, spending money as if she earned it herself. He also seems to approve of her standing up for herself, mentioning a time she “popped off on your ex.” These lines paint a picture of a relationship tested by fame, where Drake is evaluating his partner's loyalty and character. He transitions to name-dropping, mentioning buying her Champagne even though she prefers Hennessy, a detail suggesting intimacy. He calls her “from the block like you Jenny,” a likely reference to Jennifer Lopez, whom he briefly dated. This verse blends personal reflection with specific relationship dynamics, all underscored by his search for genuine connection.

The second chorus repeats the core questions, but this time addresses different women: ‘Resha and J.T. ‘Resha is Caresha Brownlee (Yung Miami) and J.T. is Jatavia Johnson, the two members of the rap group City Girls. This expansion of names suggests that the song might not be about a single person, but rather a broader questioning of loyalty from the women in his life, or it could be a shout-out to artists he admires.

A significant shift occurs in the segue, featuring uncredited vocals from City Girls. Their perspective is starkly different from Drake's romantic pleading. JT raps about “two bad bitches… kissin’ in the Wraith” and needing access to his finances (“that black card and the code to the safe”). Yung Miami continues this theme, boasting about her sexual prowess and flipping the casual “Netflix and chill” into a blunt inquiry about his financial bottom line: “what’s your net-net-net worth?” This interlude introduces a raw, materialistic counterpoint to Drake's emotional vulnerability, highlighting the transactional nature of some relationships in his world.

The song then transitions into a high-energy outro, driven by the bounce beat and samples. The repeated calls to “bring that ass back” and “clap that ass” transform the track into a dance floor command, heavily influenced by New Orleans bounce music. This section features samples from the late New Orleans bounce artist Magnolia Shorty and a clip from the TV show 'Atlanta,' where a character expresses a desire for a photo with Drake to boost her social media status. The ending encapsulates the song's duality: the private, emotional plea for love set against the public, performative, and often superficial world of fame and social media currency that he inhabits.

"In My Feelings" was released on July 10, 2018, as the fifth single from Drake's fifth studio album, Scorpion. The song's creation involved a trio of producers: TrapMoneyBenny, BlaqNmilD, and Noah "40" Shebib. The initial beat, including the core melody and initial drums, was crafted by Cleveland producer TrapMoneyBenny. He passed the instrumental to Drake's camp via his connection with songwriter James Fauntleroy, who was working with Drake in Toronto.

The beat was then significantly altered by New Orleans bounce veteran BlaqNmilD and Drake's longtime collaborator, 40. They incorporated the distinctive bounce rhythm that defines the track and added several key samples. These include an a cappella sample of "Smoking Gun" by the late New Orleans bounce artist Magnolia Shorty, elements of Lil Wayne's 2008 hit "Lollipop," and a dialogue snippet from the "Champagne Papi" episode of Donald Glover's TV series Atlanta.

The song also features uncredited vocals from the Miami rap duo City Girls (Yung Miami and JT). Originally, both members recorded full verses for the song, but their contributions were ultimately edited down to the short, impactful interlude that appears in the final version. Despite their parts being shortened, City Girls later released a full remix of the track. The inclusion of City Girls was a significant co-sign for the up-and-coming duo, giving them mainstream exposure. The song was recorded at various studios, including in Miami and Toronto, as part of the extensive sessions for the double album Scorpion.

The rhythmic foundation of "In My Feelings" is its defining characteristic, built upon the syncopated and energetic framework of New Orleans bounce music. The tempo is upbeat and dance-oriented, driven by a distinctive, recurring drum pattern that encourages movement, a factor that heavily contributed to its viral dance challenge. The interplay between Drake's smoother, melodic vocal flow and the aggressive, chopped-up rhythm of the beat creates a compelling tension.

The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward and typical for a pop-rap song, primarily using couplets (AABB) and simple end rhymes to maintain a catchy, memorable structure. For example, in the chorus, "riding" is paired with "beside me," and "need ya" is a near rhyme with "always" (delivered as 'al-ways'). This simplicity makes the hook easy to sing along to.

Drake's lyrical rhythm is conversational and fluid. He often stretches or compresses syllables to fit the beat, a common technique in modern hip-hop. For instance, in the line, "Say you'll never ever leave from beside me," the phrasing is more rhythmic than strictly metrical, flowing naturally over the bounce track. The City Girls' interlude introduces a different rhythmic feel—more assertive, staccato, and confrontational, which contrasts with Drake's more melodic and pleading delivery. The outro shifts again, with repetitive, chant-like phrases ("Bring that ass back," "Clap that ass") that are rhythmically hypnotic and designed for audience participation.

"In My Feelings" is a masterclass in genre fusion and modern production techniques. Musically, its most prominent feature is the use of a New Orleans bounce beat, a regional subgenre of hip-hop known for its energetic, call-and-response patterns and sped-up rhythms. This choice, driven by producer BlaqNmilD, gives the track an infectious, danceable quality that was crucial to its viral success.

The song's production is rich with sampling, a key stylistic technique in hip-hop. It incorporates Magnolia Shorty's "Smoking Gun," Lil Wayne's "Lollipop," and a dialogue clip from the TV show Atlanta. This collage of sounds grounds the track in hip-hop history (Lil Wayne), pays homage to a specific regional culture (Magnolia Shorty and bounce), and engages with contemporary pop culture (Atlanta), creating a layered listening experience.

Lyrically, Drake employs rhetorical questions as the central literary device. The repeated queries ("Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding?") create a conversational, pleading tone and form the song's unforgettable hook. He also uses a direct address narrative voice, speaking intimately to the women he names, which enhances the song's personal and vulnerable feel.

Drake's vocal delivery is a signature blend of singing and rapping (a style often dubbed "sing-rapping"), which allows him to convey a range of emotions from longing and vulnerability in the verses to a more rhythmic, commanding tone in the outro. The uncredited feature from City Girls serves as a narrative foil, with their confident, materialistic perspective providing a stark contrast to Drake's emotional questioning, thereby adding complexity to the song's overall message.

The cultural influence of "In My Feelings" was monumental, largely driven by the viral internet dance craze it inspired, known as the #InMyFeelingsChallenge or #ShiggyChallenge. The challenge was initiated by comedian Shiggy, who posted a video of himself dancing to the song on Instagram. This sparked a global phenomenon where millions of people, including major celebrities like Will Smith and Ciara, posted videos of themselves dancing to the hook, often while jumping out of a moving car. This viral spread was a primary driver of the song's commercial success.

The song soared to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for ten weeks. It broke the all-time weekly streaming record in the U.S. at the time, with over 116 million streams in a single week. Its success helped Drake break the record for the most number-one hits among rappers on the Hot 100. The music video, released on August 2, 2018, leaned into the song's cultural moment by taking place in New Orleans, featuring bounce legend Big Freedia, and starring La La Anthony as "Kiki" and Phylicia Rashad as her mother. Crucially, the video also included a cameo from Shiggy and a closing montage of a-list celebrities participating in the dance challenge.

"In My Feelings" became the undisputed "song of the summer" for 2018, dominating airwaves and social media feeds. Its success demonstrated the immense power of user-generated content and viral memes in propelling a song to the top of the charts in the streaming era.

The central metaphor in "In My Feelings" is the act of "riding." This term, common in hip-hop, extends beyond its literal meaning of being a passenger in a car. It symbolizes unwavering loyalty, support, and companionship through thick and thin. When Drake asks, "Are you riding?" he is metaphorically asking for a deep, committed partnership that can withstand the pressures of his lifestyle. This is not just about physical presence but about emotional and psychological solidarity.

The car, a recurring image tied to the “riding” motif and famously visualized in the viral dance challenge, can be seen as a symbol of Drake's journey through life and fame. He is in the driver's seat of a fast-moving, high-stakes career, and he needs to know who is willing to be a true partner on this journey, rather than just a temporary passenger enjoying the luxury of the ride.

The interlude by the City Girls introduces a sharp symbolic contrast. Their lines, particularly the twisting of "Netflix and chill" into a question about "net-net-net worth," function as a powerful symbol of transactional relationships. "Netflix and chill," itself a symbol of modern casual intimacy, is stripped of any romantic pretense and replaced by a blunt financial calculation. This juxtaposition symbolizes the conflict between genuine emotional connection and the materialism that Drake frequently encounters.

Finally, the term "in my feelings" itself is a cultural idiom that symbolizes a state of emotional vulnerability and openness. For a globally famous male artist in the often hyper-masculine world of hip-hop, publicly declaring to be "in my feelings" is a symbolic act of lowering one's guard, making the pleas within the song feel more raw and unfiltered.

The most significant recurring motif in "In My Feelings" is the lyrical hook: “Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding?” This question is the song's emotional and structural anchor. It is repeated multiple times, but with a slight variation where the name changes from "Kiki" to "KB," then to "'Resha," and finally to "JT." This repetition drills the central theme of seeking loyalty into the listener's mind, while the changing names broaden the scope of the question from a specific person to a general query directed at the women in his life. The repetition ensures maximum memorability, which was a key factor in the song's viral spread.

Another recurring phrase is the follow-up promise, “'Cause I want ya, and I need ya / And I'm down for you always.” This line serves as Drake's recurring declaration of his own loyalty, framing his questioning not just as a demand but as a reciprocal desire for commitment.

The phrase "In my feelings" itself, mentioned in the opening lines of the full version, acts as a thematic motif for the entire Scorpion album's B-Side, which explores more R&B and pop-inflected emotional themes. The song serves as the literal embodiment of this album-wide concept.

Musically, the infectious, looping bounce beat and the underlying twinkly melody produced by TrapMoneyBenny serve as a constant motif throughout the track, providing a consistent sonic identity even as the lyrical focus and vocal delivery shift.